Thai group plans foray into agriculture research

It will help increase quality and quantity of food in Pakistan.

LAHORE: The Charoen Pokphand (CP) group of Thailand is planning to enter Pakistan’s market, the group’s vice president, Natthakrit, announced here on Tuesday.

Accompanying a high-level delegation, he was speaking during a visit to the Punjab Board of Investment and Trade (PBIT) where opportunities for investment in Punjab were discussed.

“CP group plans to enter Pakistan, not just to sell, but to serve the farming community, generate employment opportunities and invest in agriculture research to improve the quality and quantity of food in the region,” Natthakrit said.

The group is bringing investment considering the country’s vast potential in agriculture and livestock sectors. Earlier, the PBIT and Pakistan’s embassy in Thailand had been highlighting investment opportunities, government connectivity, corporate law and related information.

The CP group is a leading agro-industrial and food conglomerate in Thailand and Asia with annual turnover of $7 billion in the food sector and $17 billion overall.

Besides the agri-food business, other main businesses of the group include telecommunications, e-commerce, international trading, marketing and distribution, petrochemicals, property and land development, insurance, automotive, crop integration and pet food.

Speaking on the occasion, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Thailand Sohail Mahmood underlined the significance of Thailand’s investment in Pakistan for bilateral relations and assured the group of government’s support for their investment plans.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 5^th, 2012.